Chapter 2

“Emily?”

Adam walked into the apartment, absently closing the door behind him. He had a lot on his mind — despite his mother’s attempt to distract him from what he’d been reading. In a strange way, he was already itching to get back to the journals. They disturbed him, but the answers they contained also tantalised him. He just wished he had a way to confirm his suspicions.

“Emily, are you here?”

Adam frowned as he looked around the seemingly empty apartment. He wasn’t late — he was actually a little earlier than he’d said he would be. Adam thought back; he was sure he was supposed to meet his sister here, and not at the restaurant.

He was about to leave and head there anyway, when he heard a muffled sound from one of the bedrooms, coupled with what sounded like a curse.

“Emily?”

“Just — just a sec, Adam!”

Adam walked closer to the closed door. He could hear sheets being ruffled, thrown back. A body scrambling across the bed, the sound of mattress springs. A thud as a body hit the floor, with more hissed cursing. It almost sounded like...

Adam put his hand on the door, but then hesitated. His sister had sounded panicked. Like she hadn’t wanted him to come in. Like she was...

Adam frowned, anger rising within him. He knew it was unjustified, he had no claim on Emily. He had been tempted so many times, had almost taken her ... but events had conspired to prevent it. Adam had thought about it in the days since — Holly had even asked some leading questions, and so had Delilah. But he’d held off. Reading those journals had curtailed his desires in some ways. He didn’t regret Holly or Kendra — or even his mother. He couldn’t, even if he still held some guilt inside. But the thought of purposefully taking and binding another woman to him made part of him uncomfortable.

It also didn’t help that he felt he was getting to know Emily for the first time in his life. Adam would have laughed at himself only a few short weeks ago, but he was finding it actually enjoyable spending time with her. Even her cutting remarks were coming across as witty now that they weren’t being directed at him.

So. Adam had no reason to be upset. In a way, all of this had started because Adam had seen his sister naked, seen her having sex. But the thought of Emily being in bed with someone else...

That made him angry. He couldn’t help it.

Adam pushed the door open, striding inside. His face was thunderous, and he glared about the room. He was going to —

Adam blinked.

“Emily?”

“Ah, fuck...”

His sister was sprawled on the floor, tanned limbs in every direction, the sheet from the bed tangled and twisted around one long leg. She was wearing a dress, but it was hiked up so high it was bunched up under her breasts. Adam’s eyes locked on to his sister’s belly, her hips, her panties ... Her long hair was disheveled, and there were high points of colour in her cheeks. Emily looked embarrassed, and she was frantically pulling her bound leg as she rubbed at her sore posterior.

Emily’s face was bright red.

“Um. Little help?”

Adam crouched down and untangled Emily’s ankle from the sheet. It wasn’t a knot, just friction. His sister’s struggles were the only thing keeping it in place. Adam held Emily’s ankle for a moment, and then realised where he was. He was crouched between his sister’s spread legs, and he had a world-class view of everything. Her thighs looked so good, the skin tanned perfection.

Emily twitched, like she was about to shuffle away from her brother, but then she stopped. If anything, she parted her legs a little more.

Adam subconsciously tightened his grip on Emily’s ankle. Holding her legs spread. Adam had thought that there had been someone in here with his sister, that she’d been having a little ‘fun’.

He’d been half right.

Adam was close enough now that he could smell Emily’s arousal. It was heavy in the air. Her panties were damp, the fabric clinging to the outline of her sex. Adam was early, Emily must have been finishing herself off before he arrived for their lunch date.

Emily licked her lips. She was practically naked from ribs down, and her embarrassment was starting to fade. Her eyes half-closed, her expression growing intense.

“Adam...”

Adam got to his feet, clearing his throat. He half-turned — not turning his back on Emily, but not looking directly at her either.

“Ah — sorry. I probably should have knocked.”

Emily stared up at him for a long moment, not making any move to closing her legs. Then the embarrassment returned, and she scrambled to her feet, pulling her dress back down so that she was covered. Emily pretended to smooth the lines of her dress, keeping her face down so that Adam couldn’t see her expression.

“Geez, Adam. I guess no one ever taught you any manners.”

“Yeah, and you’re so ladylike.”

Emily stared at him for a second, and then snickered. She hit him on the arm and her demeanour relaxed.

“Asshole. I can’t believe you’re early. You’re never ever on time!”

“Yeah, well. If you needed some privacy, you should have said.”

“I don’t need to hear that from you! Anyway, why did you just barge in here — you were glaring too.”

Adam’s face coloured slightly.

“Oh. Uh, I thought that there was someone in here. With you.”

Emily cocked her head at her brother. Her cheeks turned faintly pink, and it looked like she was trying to suppress a smile. She looked down again, unnecessarily straightening the bottom of her dress. Then she punched him again. Softer this time.

“Idiot. Come on. We may as well get something to eat now.”

They sat down at a table, looking at the menu. Adam had barely ever eaten lunch here at the start, always getting something takeaway. He’d discovered that the lunch menu really was quite good, and it was another reason to enjoy lunch with his sister.

“I think I’ll get this one.”

Adam showed Emily the meal he’d chosen. Garlic prawns, something he’d never tried before. It sounded pretty good, and he was already turning to the drinks menu when his sister shook her head.

“Nuh uh. No way, little brother.”

“What? Why? It sounds good.”

Emily smirked as she ran her finger down the menu until she chose something she deemed more suitable.

“It does sound good — and we’d all be able to smell it for the rest of the day. Consider it my charitable deed to Kendra and Holly.”

Adam hesitated.

“Oh, come on. It can’t be that bad.”

“They wouldn’t say anything — more fool them. But they’d be thinking it. Is that something you want?”

Adam sighed, half-heartedly grumbling.

“I really wanted to try that.”

“Don’t sulk. Here, order this one. It’s just as good.”

They ordered their meals and then sat, waiting. Emily broke the silence after a few moments.

“So, how’s Mom?”

“Yeah, she’s good. Seem’s really happy, you know?”

Emily sighed. She knew Adam was seeing their mother up at Delilah’s house, even if she didn’t know all the particulars about it. Being especially unaware that Adam had sex with their mother pretty much every morning.

“I can’t believe that Mom is with that woman.”

“Do you think —”

“Don’t get me wrong! I mean, good for her. Delilah’s gorgeous. It’s just ... I don’t see it ending well.”

Adam frowned.

“Why do you say that?”

Emily rolled her eyes. She put her elbows on the table, propping her head up as she looked at Adam.

“You know why.”

“Mmm. I don’t know about that. It’s been a lot better this week — since he’s been gone.”

“No argument there from me! Weird that he’s so worried about Todd though, don’t you think? The guy turned out to be a huge creep, but I didn’t want him to get hurt like that. But it is nice. Dad not being here. It makes me wish...”

“What?”

Emily heaved a sigh, leaning back in her chair. She rested her hands on her stomach, and looked contemplatively up at the ceiling.

“I wish I’d done more with my life. I mean, I studied. You know that. For whatever that was worth. Started a few crappy business ideas ... but it was all stuff he gave me. You know?”

Adam was silent as he studied his sister. They’d been growing closer, but this was the most serious conversation they’d had yet. He wondered what was so pressing in her mind. Adam decided to distract her instead.

“Oh yes. And now it’s far too late. You’re so old. Past your prime. No time to start or accomplish anything else in life.”

Emily glared daggers at Adam, but her lips twitched after a second. She snorted indelicately.

“Little shit.”

Adam grinned. It was the same words he’d heard from his sister all his life, but it was completely different now. Instead of vehement dislike, Emily sounded affectionate when she said it.

“Hey, it’s not so bad. At least you’re debt free! You got that out of him at least.”